1. Bedding Plant Production
Competencies:

2. Bedding Plant Production Categories (Click to view)
Begonias
Geraniums
Impatiens
Marigolds
Pansies
Petunias
Potential Problems
Media
Transplanting

3. Begonias Grow 6”-12” high with pink, red, or white flowers
Spaced 6”-10” apart and need direct sunlight
May be propagated from seeds or cuttings and transplanted

4. Begonias
Time from seeding to market in packs is about 14 weeks (16 weeks in pots)
Small seeds should be lightly pressed into surface of germinating medium
Germination requires light and degree F medium temperature
Can be propagated by stem cuttings
Plants do well in full sun to shade

5. Geraniums
Grow 12”-18”
Dark green leaves are rounded with scalloped edges
Flowers are red, white, or pink and grow on a stem
Flowers have many petals in a cluster shaped like a ball

6. Geraniums About 2/3 of all geraniums sold are red
Direct sunlight is needed
10”-12” spacing is needed
May be propagated from seeds or cuttings and transplanted

7. Geraniums
Time from seeding to market in packs is about 14 weeks (16 weeks in pots)
Seeds are large and have to be scarified because of hard seed coats
Seed suppliers usually scarify before packing for sale. Seeds should be coved with 1/8 inch of medium
Medium should be about 75 degrees F.

8. Impatiens Grow 6”-18” high and have succulent stems
Lance shaped leaves
Flower colors include pink, lavender, white, red, purple, salmon, and coral.

9. Impatiens Flowers are small and round with five petals
One flower petal is shaped like a tube that protrudes from the underside of the flower
Spaced 12”-18” and needs partial sun or shade
May be propagated from seeds or cuttings

10. Impatiens Time from seeding to market in packs is about 8 weeks
Seeds should be placed on surface of medium and covered lightly
Germination requires light and temperature of degrees F
Have been the number one bedding crop for many years
Grow well in shade

11. Marigolds Grow from 6” to 4’ tall
Orange or yellow flowers have a pungent aroma
Spaced 6”-12” apart and grow best in full sunlight
Grown from seeds and transplanted

12. Marigolds
Time from seeding to market in packs is about 9 weeks (10 weeks in pots)
Seeds should be covered by ¼” of germinating medium
Medium should be degrees F
Outdoor plants should grow in full sun for best quality
Very few cultural problems

13. Pansies Grow from 6-8” tall
Moon-faced flowers in many colors (blue, purple, yellow, white, pink, red)
Spaced 6-8” in full sun
Grown from seeds and transplanted
Cool-season bedding plant

14. Pansies
Time from seeding to market in packs is about 12 weeks (13 weeks in pots)
Seeds should be planted on surface of medium and covered with paper to keep dark
Germination medium should be 70 degrees Fahrenheit
Grow in full sun

15. Petunias Grow from 6”-18” tall Flowers have a tube-shaped base
Colors include red, pink, white, blue, and pastels
Spaced 10”-12”
Grown from seeds and transplanted

16. Petunias
Time from seeding to market in packs is about 10 weeks (11 weeks in pots)
Sow seeds on surface of medium
Seeds are very small (285,000 per ounce)
Need light and degrees F germinating medium temperature
Many different types and colors
One of top five annuals in the U.S. for over 100 years

17. Potential Problems (Click to view)
Cultural Disorders
Germination Problems
Fertilization Problems
Uneven growth
Tall and spindly growth
Diseases
Seedlings falling over
Lower leaves brown, rotting, and drying
Insects
Plants missing
Holes in leaves or plant parts missing

18. Cultural-Germination Problems
Causes
Improper temperatures
Over-watering or underwatering
Chemical residues in medium
Seed planting depth
Low quality seeds

19. Cultural-Germination Problems
Correction or Prevention
Use high-quality seeds
Plant at proper depth
Use medium with no chemical residues
Maintain proper temperatures
Maintain proper moisture levels

20. Cultural-Fertilization Problems
Causes
Lack of nutrients
Root injury
Improper pH of medium
Excessive fertilization
Manganese Deficiency

21. Cultural-Fertilization Problems
Correction or Prevention
Test soil or media
Apply correct amounts and kinds of nutrients
Use pH correcting materials

22. Cultural-Uneven Growth
Causes
Poor mixing of medium
Uneven moisture levels
Unlevel flats
Poor grading of seedlings

23. Cultural-Uneven Growth
Correction or Prevention
Proper mixing of media
Even watering
Grading seedlings by size and quality
Placing flats level

24. Cultural-Tall and Spindly Growth
Causes
Too much nitrogen fertilizer
Overwatering
Low light intensity (too much shade)
High temperatures

25. Cultural-Tall and Spindly Growth
Correction or Prevention
Use the correct amount of nitrogen
Reduce frequency of watering
Lower temperature
Provide more light
Use growth retardant such as B-Nine SP

26. Diseases-Seedlings Falling Over
Causes
Stem rot
Damping-off

27. Diseases-Seedlings Falling Over
Correction or Prevention
Use sterilized media
Apply fungicides
Improve air circulation around plants

28. Diseases-Brown, rotting leaves
Causes
Botrytis

29. Diseases-Brown, rotting leaves
Correction or Prevention
Increase air temperature
Increase air circulation around plants
Use proper fungicide

30. Insects-Plants Missing
Causes
Slugs
Snails
Cockroaches

31. Insects-Plants Missing
Correction or Prevention
Use baits and pesticides

32. Insects-Holes in Leaves
Causes
Aphids
Mealy Bugs
Scale Insects
Thrips
Whiteflies
Flea beetles
Fungus Gnats
Leaf miners
Cutworms
Caterpillars

33. Insects-Holes in Leaves
Correction or Prevention
Use of recommended pesticides to control insects

34. Bedding Plant Media Media-materials used to start and grow plants Soil
Inorganic materials
Commercially prepared mixes

35. Soil
Soil must be mixed with other materials such as peat moss to add organic matter and improve aeration and drainage.

36. Inorganic Materials Improve aeration and drainage
Sand-finely ground stone
Gravel
Perlite
Expanded volcanic rock
Neutral pH
sterile
Vermiculite
Expanded mica

37. Commercially Prepared Mixes
Sterile (no insects, weeds, or diseases)
Jiffy-Mix
Redi-Earth
Pro-Mix
Sunshine Mix
Metro Mix
Other brands also available

38. Containers Flat-plastic tray used for planting seeds
Cell packs-several small cell-like pots of plastic molded together used for planting one or two seeds per cell
Sold without transplanting to another container
Peat pots can be planted directly in the soil
Jiffy 7 pellet can be planted directly in the soil

39. Containers Plastic pots of various sizes and shapes
Clay pots of various sizes and shapes
Styrofoam pots of various sizes
Hanging baskets
Standard pot is the same width at the top as it is high
Azalea pot is ¾ as high as its top diameter or width

40. Transplanting Instructions
Seedlings should have true leaves not just seed leaves or cotyledons before being transplanted. Waiting too long to transplant causes shock to transplanted seedlings.

41. Transplanting Instructions
Hold plants by their leaves. Do not hold by the stem because a badly bruised stem will cause the seedling to die.
The media may need to be loosened with a pot label to keep from breaking stem and roots. Do not shake medium off roots.

42. Transplanting Instructions
Use a dibble or other means to make a hole for the transplanting seedling.

43. Transplanting Instructions
5. Plant seedling in the media in the new container slightly deeper than it grew in the flat and gently press media around roots.

44. Transplanting Instructions
6. Water gently to settle media around roots.

45. Transplanting Instructions
Keep moist for a few days to prevent wilting and dying.
Grow and harden-off before selling.